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Vintage Trappist beer photos

Chuck Cook

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The appreciation for vintage (aged) beers seems to be at an all-time high. I posted a photo of a 1977 Rochefort 8, that was enjoyed at Bierhuis Kulminator in 2005, on my Facebook page, here, yesterday, and 1,000 people viewed it in just over 24 hours. Considering I only have just over 800 followers at the moment, that’s pretty impressive.

I was lucky that I was able to start tasting aged beers at Kulminator in 1996, and I was the first person to write a detailed history of the place. I wrote about Kulminator, and its vintage beers, in publications such as All About Beer Magazine, Celebrator Beer News, CAMRA What’s Brewing, and the Beeradvocate website.

So, here is the first of what will be at least a two-part series of vintage beer photos. Enjoy the scenery….

A 1969 Westvleteren Abt, enjoyed inside the lab at Westvleteren. The glass was made to commemorate the opening of the new brewhouse in May, 1990.
A 1969 Westvleteren Abt, enjoyed inside the lab at Westvleteren. The glass was made to commemorate the opening of the new brewhouse in May, 1990.

When I visited Brouwerij Westvleteren at De Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren for the third time, in 2007, my friend Danny Van Tricht and I were in for a real treat. Brother Joris, the monk in charge of the brewery at the time, told us we would be drinking a special beer. He said that someone had come to the abbey gates and said they had found an old bottle, and did not want it. The person knew the date was sometime in 1969 due to some newspaper that was packed around the bottle in a cellar. You can see that at this point, the brewery didn’t even use all of its own glassware-this one was from another brewery, Aigle Belgica, and was reused by the monks. That was actually pretty common at that time for small breweries.

This brew was stellar-very complex, rich, and port-like, with very low oxidation.

A 1969 Westvleteren Abt 12, tasted in the lab at Brouwerij Westvleteren.
A 1969 Westvleteren Abt 12, tasted in the lab at Brouwerij Westvleteren.

After we tasted the beer and left the abbey, my friend Danny, a glass collector, told me that the glassware that we drank from-which was made for the christening party for the new brewery, which was held on May 25, 1990, were worth many hundreds of euros each. Only 200 were made, I think he said. I remembered thinking how glad I was that I didn’t know how valuable it was at the time, as I would have hated to drop it!!

One more shot of the '69 Westvleteren Abt, known as the 12 these days.
One more shot of the ’69 Westvleteren Abt, known as the 12 these days.
A 1975 Rochefort 10, taken from the cellar at Cafe Bodega. Enjoyed at Bierhuis Kulminator in 2002.
A 1975 Rochefort 10, taken from the cellar at Cafe Bodega. Enjoyed at Bierhuis Kulminator in 2002.

This ’75 Rochefort 10 was a gift from Dirk Van Dyck of Bierhuis Kulminator, in appreciation for my 4,000 word piece about the Kulminator and aged beers which appeared in All About Beer Magazine, July 2002 issue.

A 1986 Chimay Anniversary beer, with a '75 Rochefort 10 and a 1982 De Dolle Stille Nacht.
A 1986 Chimay Anniversary beer, with a ’75 Rochefort 10 and a 1982 De Dolle Stille Nacht.
Chimay bottles from the mid to late 1970's. Note that all the Chimay bottles had red labels then. Only the crown cap let you know which beer was inside.
Chimay bottles from the mid to late 1970’s. Note that all the Chimay bottles had red labels then. Only the crown cap let you know which beer was inside.
75 cl bottles of Chimay from the mid to late 1970's, in the lower back center of the photo.
75 cl bottles of Chimay from the mid to late 1970’s, in the lower back center of the photo.
Dirk Van Dyck of Bierhuis Kulminator pouring a 1975 Chimay Blue. In those days, the crown cap designated which Chimay beer was inside. The bottle labels were all red.
Dirk Van Dyck of Bierhuis Kulminator pouring a 1975 Chimay Blue. In those days, the crown cap designated which Chimay beer was inside. The bottle labels were all red.
A Trappist Westmalle Tripel from 1977 or '78.
A Trappist Westmalle Tripel from 1977 or ’78.
Dirk Van Dyck of Bierhuis Kulminator pouring a 1977 Rochefort 8.
Dirk Van Dyck of Bierhuis Kulminator pouring a 1977 Rochefort 8.
A 1977 Rochefort 8 at Bierhuis Kulminator.
A 1977 Rochefort 8 at Bierhuis Kulminator.
Four Westvleteren Abt 12's, dating to the 1970's or early 1980's.
Four Westvleteren Abt 12’s, dating to the 1970’s or early 1980’s.
Several Orval bottles dating to the early 1980's.
Several Orval bottles dating to the early 1980’s.
A glass of Petit (Green) Orval, the monk's table beer, dating to 1983.
A glass of Petit (Green) Orval, the monk’s table beer, dating to 1983.

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2 responses to “Vintage Trappist beer photos”

  1. Ian Huntley Avatar
    Ian Huntley

    I truly appreciate all the information and photos you provide regarding vintage beers. I’ve been cellaring beers for over 25 years and most people have always thought of my cellar as more of an oddity. Just wanted to commend your great enthusiasm and let you know your work is appreciated.

    Reply
    1. Chuck Cook Avatar
      Chuck Cook

      Thanks for the kind words, Ian! I started drinking vintage Belgian beers at Kulminator in ’96, so I appreciate your enthusiasm as well. Cheers, Chuck

      Reply

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